No I haven't, really!!

Did you like to play tag when you were a child? I'll let you in on a little secret, I loved playing tag a lot! So when my sweet friend Anne over at Is Anyone There tagged me to write a post about 10 things I've never done, so I'm game.. 


Here's my list:

1. I have never gone scuba diving, I wouldn't be able to breath, believe me the experience would just be one big underwater panic attack!!( breathing only thru my mouth while my nose is covered makes me claustrophobic)
2. Although many of my neighbors swear they are all delicious I have never eaten dear, rabbit, squirrels and wild turkey. I still prefer my meat from the market and firmly wrapped with cellophane.
3. I have never belonged to any church other than the church I was born into, Catholic. That being said I do really enjoy visiting church's of other denominations when invited by friends and neighbors.
4. I have never been to the opera or seen a ballet. I have been to the theater and to many many concerts but that's the extent of my live on stage experiences.
5. I have never been to the top of the Empire State Building; pretty sad for a New Yorker right? All I can say is the line was always too long and I didn't want to wait!! 
6. I have never gotten a tattoo although I like them on others especially if they're simply designed. Matthew (my son) has one on his upper arm it's the Asian symbols for older sister and younger brother- very nice simple and understated tribute to his sister and brother. 
7. I have never been on snow skiing. I did go on a trip where there was supposed to be skiing, never did make it to the slopes though! Might have been a party involved. What kind of party, you might ask?  My room-mate and old high school girl friend woke up the next morning and her mattress was missing from our hotel room and she had been sleeping on it!!
8. I've never been divorced! 
9. There are 39 states in the US that I have never visited.
10.  I have never met any of my blog friends person yet!  But I'm hopeful :)

Now I'd like to tag some of my friends and give them the option to play along if they'd like.

Gina at does anyone care what i write, Kathleen at my dark cove pantry, Ms. A at sarcastic granny, Betty (the corgi) at a bench with a view, J.T at in search of a title, Jennifer at another jennifer, Sonya at it's a bee's life & Kenya at here's the thing. 

I'm Kreativ, Kreativ, Kreativ

You do not glasses my friends you are seeing triple. I'm feeling the love this week. Three of my blog friends have given me the Kreativ Blogger Award . I'm going to list them in the order in which I received them.

Thanks so much to Kela over at Teardrops On My Book who was kind enough to give me the first of my Kreativ Blogger Awards. I also won an E- Book on her blog this week, I'm so excited! I am so grateful for her generosity, both for the award and for the book. Please go visit her and show her some love.

Kela

My second award was given to me from my new friend Kathleen, she lives in Newfoundland. During the A-Z Challenge she was one of my regular stops. What wonderful pictures and interesting blog posts Kathleen wrote, it was always so enjoyable, so please give some blog love to Kathleen over at My Dark Cove Pantry. You will not regret it. Thanks Kathleen, I appreciate this award very much. Actually I was going to give Kathleen the award when Kela gave it to me, funny huh?

Kathleen

And last but not least, my friend Gina whose blog is a must read for me. Three's a charm girl friend! Gina is an inspiration to me because she is remarkable, not only does she writes every day, but her writing is smart, she's interesting and she's funny! Now who wouldn't want to read her stuff? Go visit her and see for yourself at Does Anyone Care What I Write?  and you'll see what I'm talking about!

Gina

Now I have to tell you ten facts about myself that you might not already know.

1. I have never met a famous person in my life, not a sports star, movie star, rock star or anyone of note.
2. I do not sing in the shower but I sing like a fiend in the car, if you call what I do singing, I do not have the greatest voice.
3. I'm afraid of heights, I've been know to get up on the roof and then had a bit of a problem getting on the ladder, looking down is a problem....
4. I have never traveled to any of the central states of the United States, I've been to most all states on the east coast where I live and I've traveled to the west coast but none of the states in the middle. Never been to Europe either!
5. I am a movie freak, I watch a lot of movies and I have the collection to prove it.
6. I am addicted to true crime shows like The First 48 and Notorious....others.
7. Do you like air conditioning? Not me it makes me feel a bit closed in! We have central air and I turn it off every chance I can. I prefer the fresh air and the windows open. Living in Virginia however it can get pretty hot so I have to use it more often than not for most of the summer unfortunately.
8. I cannot live without coffee, it is necessary to me functioning, when I come downstairs in the morning I go right for the pot! 
9. I do not belong to Twitter or Facebook and Pinterest. I think I might probably the only one who isn't on them!
10. I spent my honeymoon on a small 36 foot boat where we traveled  from Long Island out into the Atlantic Ocean up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty and NY City to Up-State New York and back. 

I am supposed to pass this award to seven people, but I find that task impossible there are way to many good blogs to choose from. Since I appreciate the people who read and follow my blog old and new, I'd like to give this Kreativ Blog Award to all my readers and followers... Also if you visited and commented during or after A-Z on one or more of my blog posts I appreciate you,  please consider this award to be yours too!

Thanks so much everyone!

just jen

"J"

Today my lovely readers the letter is "J" and since my name is Jennifer I decided I'd make myself the subject of today's post, pretty much a no brain-er!

Born Jennifer Lynn in New York City to Mary and Henry. I am a middle child, with one older brother Paul and one younger brother named Gerard.

For the past 30+ years I have happily been called Jen a nickname my step kids selected for me with love and affection. 

I thought I'd do a little word association with the letter "J." Here are some words and how they relate to me and me to them! 

Java- can't live without it, at least two cups every morning and always with desert if I'm indulging.

Jewelry- yellow gold all the way, diamonds preferred thank you very much.

Jobs- only worked for my Dad at his bar prior to marrying Bill, then for eleven years with the nuns at my church but that wasn't for a salary

Jail- never been, but i almost got a ticket for being in a fountain in a concert in Central Park {it was hot, OK!}

Joints or Jays- would you believe I didn't inhale? 

Jello- only shots and with vodka please!

Jam of Jelly- current jelly I know not exactly the most popular flavor but it works for me and strawberry jam especially if I'm eating peanut butter.

Jeans- pretty much my daily clothing choice weather permitting.

Judicious- I'd like to think at this age I have good judgment.

Jaunty- not in a million years unless a great selection of cotton tops and yoga pants apply; oh and there's those pink lined gardening gloves.

Joyful- I'm not runny thru the tulips every day but I most certainly am capable of joyful moments more often than not.

Jury Duty- was called last year but wan't chosen, way to much law enforcement in my family.  Nor could I ever sit on any traffic related case or accident so i am a jury duty reject.......

Jealous- Not really the jealous type, getting to old to be worrying about what other people have or what I don't have. I leave that to the young and less mature.  

Joke- I am a horrible joke teller, won't even attempt it, but I like a good joke and a good laugh.

Jazz-  I can take it or leave it, the reason being,  I haven't been exposed to it enough.

Judge- I try not to judge people, but I am far from perfect. So what i try to do is remember to view all people with compassion.

Jesus- believer

Getting to know my new A- Z friends this week and last has been a real Joy! 

image credit

ok, spill it!

I've been following the traditions of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent maybe you have too? Some people give up an additional things, they usually sacrifice something else like giving  up a favorite food -drink or activity. Actually I didn't this year, bad I know, feeling a bit of guilt about that..... us Catholics are good at that!

 photo attribution 

                                                                                                     
Anyway, did you ever hear the expression-

guilty

pleasure? ......of course you have...

According to the merriam- webster dictionary it means: something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt.

My guilty pleasures all fall into a few categories, like.....

• I just rather not live without it, whatever it is.....
• Something that I either do or eat or drink little to often. 
• Then there's the guilt, because I'm good that way. 

Now a brief list of a few of my favorite guilty pleasures....

• Italian food, any and all Italian food! I can't just have one bowl of pasta or one slice of pizza I always want more! 
• Coffee, couldn't go a day without it. I know all that caffeine isn't good for me, but it's so darn good! 

• Sleeping in after Bill gets up in the morning. I'm not the greatest sleeper anymore so if I have the bed to myself and get a few extra zzzz's {sorry honey} is wonderful! 

OK my friends, we all have our guilty little pleasures so tell me; what's yours?

Linking this post up with Shell at
      Pour Your Heart Out

I lied twice in this post and that's the truth- UPDATED

Did that title grab ya? Seriously it's all fun really! Instead of the traditional "about me" list I've decided to do something with a bit of a twist today. I was thinking back on my younger days, high school and beyond, believe it or not I had a umm.... wild side back in the day. Here's a glimpse into Jen then and now... with a twist in my list. Out of the dozen things about me, two of them are untrue, want to give it a shot and guess which ones I made up?

1. I was voted the biggest flirt of my graduating class. The boys had issues because I wouldn't date them!
2. I broke into a neighbors house (as in burglarized) to steal a puppy that was being abused and neglected. Writing about this on Mama Kat's  this week, stay tuned!
3. I then fessed up to the neighbor breaking into the neighbors house after stealing said puppy. My dad marched me over and made me!
4. I got so drunk on champagne once, I actually took my pantyhose off on a street corner after leaving a wedding reception. Not my greatest moment!Even now when I smell champagne it makes me sick.
5. As a student I was never more than average, sad but true; maybe! Sometimes average is good!
6. I was on the kick line in high school, can you imagine the younger me in saddle shoes and a short uniform showing all that leg? This was fun.
7. I was born on Friday the 13th. March, I was due on St Patty's day but came early!
8. Would you believe I'm five foot nine inches tall? Truth or tall tale? Every inch of it! And I'm the shortest member of the seven members of our family!
9. I love shoes, I have tons of pairs and love wearing all of them. I would sell my sole for shoes! I wish i could be bare foot all year long, I hate shoes, hate wearing them.
10. I was a singer in a band that played in the local bars in the town I grew up in. Did work in my Dad's bar as a bartender but I don't have much of a voice. Sorry!
11. My last child was just under 10 pounds at birth. Eric was a big boy, 9lbs 10 oz -22inches
12. I was a tomboy who loved to play outside and never did really care for dolls. who wants dolls when they have the beach?

Are you able to spot the fabrications in this list? There are only two. Care to make a guess, just comment? Then come back in a few days and I'll highlight the lies in red so you know if you guessed right. Oh and if this bring up any of your memories that you'd like to share, please do! I mean now that you think I'm a burglar and all! ( And family members probably shouldn't participate since it wouldn't be fair OK!)